Xavier's POV: I was just settled in my study when I heard that Hazel had gotten into a fight with one of the men at the gates. I sighed and leaned back against my chair, confused on what to do. Well, I didn't want to see her so I commanded the man who had reported her to me to separate them himself. "She already left him but he's seriously wounded," The man said. "Then take care of him. When he's able to do anything,I need to see him," The man bowed before he left my study. As soon as he was gone, I stood to my feet and walked to my window. I wiped my hand over my jaw and placed it on my hip, wondering if I should go talk to her. After a few moments of contemplation, I decided to stay back in my study and leave him— her be. I couldn't sleep last night because I was really worried. How the hell was he a woman? Hazel was everything but a woman and as hard as I tried to make myself believe that it was true, I still couldn't come to terms. Hazel was the guy I had saved from being k
HAZEL'S POV:Xavier coming to apologize on behalf of the stupid pervert was none of my business. I thought he had come to see me to talk about the situation at hand.I didn't understand why he had just come into my room just to apologize. What was he expecting me to do? Smile and thank him for his kindness?I wanted to talk to him but it wasn't about some stupid man. I really wanted to talk to him and that was it!As soon as he left, I took a seat on the Chippendale seat in front of the window. That was my usual spot to think.All I could think about was the daunting task Colin had set for me. It was really messing with my mentals.I laughed.A lot of people saw me as someone who was good at concealing his emotions. Little did they know that I was battling with a lot. Trying to hide my emotions. I was someone who felt a lot at the same time. I felt too much and my ability to conceal it made the others think I was just tough skin.I have always craved the touch of a man. I always have.
HAZEL'S POV:I raised my chin to the air, acting like his presence in this mansion wasn't affected by his statement, his eyes raking down my body or whatever he was capable of doing.He had a smug smile on his face as he slowly checked out all the paintings in the drawing room. I wanted to wipe that look on his face with a very hard punch but I knew he was far stronger than I was. I had to follow him with wisdom.Apart from being really powerful, he was cunning. If I did something that upset him, I knew there was a possibility of him blowing my cover and letting everyone know that I wasn't who I really put myself out there to be. I knew he could do that."These paintings are highly expensive," He said after a long moment of silence and looking through the paintings. "Van Gogh. Hmm, one could make a fortune from just stealing this," Then he turned to me like he had just gotten a great idea. "You haven't thought of stealing this? I mean, there's a lot to take from here, pay off Colin an
XAVIER'S POV:I didn't know Hazel's background so when I saw a man standing in front of the pack house, requesting to see her, I flipped.He was tall, over six feet and good looking. He must be one of her past interests. Why was he looking for her?Not until he explained that he was a close friend of hers did I believe him. Infact, I didn't even want to believe that they were close friends. What if he was nursing feelings for her and lying to me about being close friends with her?Well, Hazel came and she seemed to recognize him vividly. There was something else in her eyes I couldn't read but I let them be together alone for a while.I was in the kitchen throughout. Trying to drown myself in tea and not overthink their meeting in the drawing room. I mean, who would want to see their mate talking with someone else who looked at her like she meant the world to him?When Hazel came down, I was relieved to hear that he was nursing a headache. She had come to bring him tea and I let her.
HAZEL's POV:I was in my room when I heard the noise outside. I had been thinking about how to cover up the painting Leon had stolen and recover it from him before it could be found.I had even tried to talk to him telepathically but he wasn't even responding. The Leon I knew would respond quickly but he wasn't even saying anything. And that was when I knew that he had really stolen it.Standing to my feet, I walked slowly to the door with ears perked up in curiosity. I could feel my heart beating hard against my chest as I knew that whatever was happening might be connected to Leon.I sighed heavily and slowly opened the door. Two guards rushed past the corridor and I turned to see that no one was there.I shut the door behind me and stepped out of my room. The noise was coming from the drawing room. My heart skipped and I knew I had some answering to do.Slowly, I walked towards the room and began to rehearse what I was going to say. I knew I had to lie because Xavier would want to
HAZEL'S POV:I hadn't come up with a decision yet. I knew I was going to attend the dinner party tomorrow but honestly, I wasn't mentally prepared.Everyone would have their eyes on me and thinking about it alone made me nervous already.I was in my room all day, thinking about a lot of things ranging from my newfound identity to the stolen painting and how Xavier had looked at me with rage in his eyes.The clock struck two and I knew it was time for lunch. Lazily, I stood to my feet and went to change into something more feminine. This morning, I had woken up to see a few gowns arranged in my wardrobe and I didn't know if I was to be offended or grateful.I scanned through the dresses and my eyes caught one. A dull brown gown that had thin straps for hands. I knew this dress was going to cause a lot of eyes to be on me but it was better I let them look now and digest the fact that I was a woman than for it to happen for a long time. It was going to make me really uncomfortable.I too
HAZEL'S POV:As I walked through the bush path, I felt the blades of grass sweep through my skin and I regretted putting on a dress when I should have just worn my pants.What was I trying to prove? That I could be a beautiful woman?I sighed and was about to turn back but I had gone more than halfway. It was best that I finished the journey and when I got to the lake, I pulled off the slipper from my feet and sighed in relief when my feet hit the cold floors of the sandy banks.I knew Leon was going to appear any time soon and I tried to look as nonchalant as I could. The moon was almost full and the stars glittered against the night skies like a couple of glitters thrown over a satin dress. This scene would have been beautiful if I was sharing it with someone else but here I was, waiting for Leon and hoping he'd come along with the painting he had stolen from the pack house.Thirty minutes had passed and Leon was nowhere to be found, not even in my head. I closed my eyes and sighed.
XAVER'S POV:Once again, Hazel was nowhere to be found. I suppressed the urge to call her by the name I had just discovered her as. Iris.I had gone to knock on the door of her room but no reply came. Thinking she must be asleep, I decided to go back to my room but curiosity had me going to one of the men to ask for her whereabouts but none of the men had seen her.There was a possibility of her sleeping in her room but my guts told me otherwise and I just had to go after her.I walked to the other side of the pack house that led through a bush path, straight to the gates that had been unlocked before.There was no sign of the locks being picked and that was what confused me the most. I stood there for a long time, thinking of the possibilities of her not being in her room and I was about to turn and walk back to the pack house, my eyes caught a red string on the carpet of grass.I walked slowly towards it and picked it up. I felt the material under the pad of my thumb before bringing